Freightliner FL60

[BJMarshall]

Is there anyreason a TST box or an Edge box won't work on a 99 24 valve in a Freightliner?

I know there are some differences, but the map sensor has the same plug as the 2000 Dodge I am working on, and wires on the vp44 are identical.

I've checked the truck out pretty good, and aside from some boost leaks, it is in pretty good shape, it's just a little weak for what we want to pull. After replacing the intercooler and fixing all boost leaks, it still only gets about 18 PSI and it is pretty slow to get there. It only makes that at about 2200. Anything below that and you only see 13 to 15 PSI.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Bob4x4]

Look at the ECM,I think you may find it has the same controller as the rv not the truck. Check with EDGE they should be able to tell you if the rv box they have will work



Bob

 

[BJMarshall]

It does. It has two plugs on the ecm. Looks just like the RV I worked on last year. I never got a chance to do anything to it as the owner thought it was too expensive.

Do you think this is realistic to try? It's a 250HP engine, and I think if we could get a little more out of it we would be satisfied. We want to gross about 40-50k and be able to maintain 65 to 70 mph. There's not much in the way of hills around here.

 

[Bob4x4]

Make sure to monitor gauges... ... ..... there are many hot rodded Motorhomes that get towed into Cummins with melted emgines. This includes Banks with all their built in protections.



Bob

 

[BJMarshall]

Thanks, Bob. I'vr got the head off now due to some coolant seepage below the thermostat housing. Not too bad, just didn't want it to get worse. Even though it has 170k on it the cylinders look new and the tops of the pistons are perfectly clean.

I've got a set of RV275 injectors I'm going to put in it while it's apart.

I think I may put the 60mm wheel and compressor housing on it, but I'm afraid the major problem I'm going to have is the 3" Pacbrake bolted right to the turbo. It really looks like a restriction. I guess I'll have to see how hot it gets when I put it back together.

 

[Bob4x4]

Since you have the head off already it would be the perfect time to clean up the ports. Even a mild pocket port job will help with temps.



Bob

 

[BJMarshall]

I'm going to see if I can work that into the budget possibly some orings too, but I don't think that is necessary. I figure I can get what I need out of this engine without going over 35 to 40 psi.

 

[JayWm]

For what its worth, I've got a 2000 Diesel pusher motorhome on a Freightliner chassis. I installed a Van Aaken Smartbox R on it. Is has a 5. 9 275hp motor. The Van Aaken was suggested since it plugs in directly to the VP44 pump. I am pleased with the results. It woke the bottom end up a ton and made nice hp/torque gains and much quicker spool. I did install a boost bolt on the turbo as well. I do have a PacBrake on it that is turbo mounted. Can't recall if its 3" or 4" inch though. I also installed boost & egt gauges as well as a low fuel pressure warning light.

 

[BJMarshall]

Thanks, Jay. I ordered a Blue Chip FMS today. I'm sure it will do way more than this application will be able to use, but Chip was the only vendor that I could get a straight answer from. I'll let you know how it does when I get it back together.

 

[JSawtelle]

If your unit was a fleet rental vehicle you gotta remember that these things were put out for JOE PUBLIC to abuse to crap out of it and then turn it in for use by some other joe public, so on and so on. My good friend purchased a vehicle like yours and the first thing that smoked was the transmission. I know as well as you that there is a whole lot more potential for that motor to make some serious numbers but just like with our 1 tons and such more power means stressing the trans and that means more money my friend.

I think that Allison is an expensive unit too!!

I will be watching this thread to see how your experiments turn out

Happy Hunting!!

 

[icman95]

You might also consider the possibility that the ecm was set at a lower power/road speed/rpm setting than the engine is actually capable of. Many commercial truck owners detune their trucks to keep their drivers honest. A dealership or Cummins shop should be able to help you out and bump the hp and governor speed if they are set artificially low.

 

[BJMarshall]

I should have it back together this weekend. Everything is cleaned up just waiting on time to work on it. The box should be in Friday.

We had it at Cummins first to see if it had any problems. The guy a the shop said it was performing like it should and had the latest software in the computer. I wish we had put it on the dyno to get a baseline, just didn't have time. I think the transmision will be OK. It shifts good and the fluid is clean. It's a MD3060 and only rated for about 275HP, but I have seen them handle much more very well.

I'll keep you posted.

 

[tgordon]

I wish we had put it on the dyno to get a baseline, just didn't have time. I think the transmision will be OK. It shifts good and the fluid is clean.

Famous last words. Did you pick this one up from a rental fleet? Farm equipment dealership I was at sold a tractor to a guy that had sat in a barn for years with no fluid in the trans. He simply filled it up and traded it in. Needless to say the guy who bought it was nto very happy. sitting out on the lot it seemed fine, but throw a load on it and she was a dog, every clutch in the trans was sllipping when it came back to us. I asked and the service mgr said if he had pd the bill to throw it on the dyno all that would have shown up.

 

[BJMarshall]

not this one. we got it from an older couple that towed their rv. we got service records too. it's not quite what i would consider average. we've worked it a little and the only complaint is the power.

 

[BJMarshall]

I got it back together. This thing runs great. It pulls really hard once it starts making a little boost. There are a lot of settings on the Blue Chip that I haven't played with yet. I just ran it down the road on 20% and boost was 38psi almost immediately. EGT's were in check, but I'm sure that will change with a load. 'm gonna hook it up tomorrow afternoon to about 35k and see how it does. I'll post after that.

 

[BJMarshall]

Everything's looking good so far. We hooked it up and loaded 6 cars on the trailer. Grossed 44k. It will maintain 70 with the cruise on now and EGT's stay reasonable. I've got the box set to defuel at 1100 and it never defueled. It gets close in 6th, but in 5th it cools down and stays about 900. It's only set on 20% so there is a lot of room to increase power, but I'll need to address the turbo situation before going up much.

It wouldn't maintain 70 with an empty trailer before. I think it is bad overgeared for the engine. The setup would probably be fine for an 8. 3, but it has 3. 90 gears in it with 22. 5 tires. This puts it at about 1600rpm at 70 in 6th. 5th puts it around 2100 and it really likes that.

 

[Bob4x4]

I'll bet it is a pleasure to drive as compared to before.



Bob

 

[JayWm]

Good to hear that you're happy with the outcome. What you said about engine rpm's does not surprise me. When I had my diesel pusher dyno'd it makes peak torque at 1750rpm. It makes peak hp at 2400-2500rpm. If yours is anything like mine at 1600rpm its just starting to pull and a little under the torque curve and the turbo is not quite as quick to spool. Plus with a MD3060 at 1600rpm you are barely above the shift point for the Allison. I suspect that if you floor it while cruising at 1600rpm with the mode button off it kicks down to 5th immediately. If you have the mode button on and floor it, it will likely hold 6th and just slowly start to pull and when it hits about 1900-2000rpm and the turbo spools it'll start to pull real hard.

 

[BJMarshall]

you are defintely right Bob. it really is a pleasure to drive now. as far as the transmission goes Jay that is exactly what it does. pressing the hold button will keep it in sixth, but egt starts to climb. it needs tires so we are going to put a little shorter tire on it, but i don't think that will make a lot of difference.

would a hx40 wrk on this, or would a s300 variant be better? we would like to put something on it with the ability to keep it cool with a little more power.

 

[Bob4x4]

I have been running an hx 40 on my 94 from PDR for many years no problem. It is just the right size for my truck and driving style. I have more fueling than you but less weight.



Bob